Casket-handling device



April 21, 18.51. D. M. GIBBONS 1,801,914

CASKET HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

BM". G/BB MS,

A TTORNE Y.

April 21', 1931. 0.. M. GIBBONS 1,801,914

CASKET HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

D. Mfillsaolvs A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATS hr arises.

DAVIS M. GIIBBONS, F KERSEAW,-SOUTH CAROLINA CASKET-HANDLING- DEVICE 7 Application filed June 11,

V eral parts of the apparatus being thus col-' lapsible render it possible for the same to be conveniently transported in a wagon or the like, and to be quickly and conveniently distended for use. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 7

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus em- 29 bodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carriage,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an endelevation of the car riage collapsed,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the track sections assembled,

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed longitudinal section through the connected ends of the track sections, on line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is an end elevation of one track section collapsed, and,

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 1010 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates track sections, which are identical. Each track section embodies longitudinal spaced bars 11, rigidly connected at their, ends with supporting membersor blocks 12.

The blocks 12 in each track section are rigidly connected with transverse horizontal bars 13 which have hinged knee joints 14, such knee joints breaking upwardly, and 5 positively preventing the bars 13 from being 1929. -Seria1 No. 370,044.

swung downwardly below the horizontal. The longitudinal bars 13 carry rails 15, rigidly attached thereto, and these rails have their outer edges beveled, as shown at 16, while their inner edges are vertical. thus seen that each track section may be folded transversely upon itself, to assume the collapsed'position, shown in Figure 9.

The supporting members or blocks 12 at the adjacent ends of the: track sections 10 are detachably connected, and for this purpose, the supportingmembers 12 01 one track section areequipped with tongues :17, to enter recesses '18 formed in the adjacent blocks of the othertrack section, and such adjacent blocks are provided with transverse openings for receiving pins 19, 'pass ing through apertures 20 in the tongues 17. When the adjacent blocks 12 are thus "sethe track sections are in alignment. The inner blocks 12 are shorter thanthe outer embodies a rectangular It is 153' curely detachably connected, the rails'15 of W0 adjustable within the, tubes 22, and are clamped therein by bolts 24 or the like. The

tubes 22 and 28 are rigidly connected with supporting members or blocks 24, and these blocks are also rigidly connected with transverse bars 25. At their inner ends, these transverse bars have hinged knee joint connections 26 which break upwardly, but positively limit the downward movement of the bars .25, below the horizontal. The supporting members or blocks 24 have their lower ends forked, for receiving flanged Wheels 27 adapted to travel upon the rails 15. The'blocks 24 extend above the sides 'and ends of the carriage, to properly sup 1 The operation of the apparatus is as folows:

The track sections 10 are distended and their adjacent ends connected by means of 3 the tongues 17 and pins 19, and one track section is placed over the grave. The carriage is first longitudinally adjusted, depending upon the length of the casket, and may then be arranged upon the track sec- 10 tion remote from the grave. The casket lowering device is mounted upon the carriage, and the casket is supported upon the carriage through the medium of the casket lowering device. When desired, the car- 15 riage with the casket thereon, is shifted longitudinally to the track section over the grave, and the casket lowered. The carriage may be readily returned upon the track section remote from the grave. The 330 carriage track sections may now be removed from the proximity to the grave, whereby the grave may be filled as is well known. The track section arranged over the grave, and the carriage arranged thereon, being 5,5 olpxen frames the casket may be lowered down t ough the same, into the grave.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred ex- {go ample of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the sccipeof the subjoined claim.

aving thus described my invention, I claim A carriage for supporting a casket lowerin device, comprising an open rectangular Trame including sides and collapsible 10 hinged ends, and vertical blocks connecting the sides and ends, said blocks serving to support the corner members of a casket lowering device so that the casket may pass downwardly through the frame, and wheels '4 supporting the blocks.

testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVIS M. GIBBONS. 

